How Can Small Businesses Use Foursquare For Marketing, Now That it Will Appear in Search Results?

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According to the rumor mill, location-based social networking service Foursquare is soon to gain more exposure in a very big way. Various online media sites are reporting that the co-founder of the company is currently in talks with the big three search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing) with the goal of striking a data deal that will land its activity in the search results. If the rumors are true, then it would join Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and others that have been included into the real-time SERPs. While there are currently no agreements or legitimate deals on the table, a partnership with any of the major search engines could result in exciting opportunities for small businesses.

The Marketing Potential of Foursquare

Introduced in 2009, Foursquare is just over a year removed from being a rookie. That year, it was launched as a new social media service that acted as a game of sorts by allowing users to locate friends and receive rewards for their efforts. The service has become quite popular in a very short amount of time, growing its user base to the tune of more than two million members. It also received millions of dollars in investment funds as the corporate world increasingly notices its worth. Despite all the hype and growing popularity, Foursquare is still a resource many small business have yet to tap it into, mainly because the platform is so young and unproven as a marketing tool. That could all change if Foursquare is able to wiggle its way into the search results.

Targeted Results for Your Business

As stated earlier, nothing has been finalized in the way of any agreements, but recent developments with one particular search engine could serve as a big hint. Bing Maps is already integrated with data from Foursquare, allowing users to view information on venues and mayor ships. These capabilities could really come in handy for small businesses with retail stores out in the real world. On a similar note, Yahoo and Google are known for their own respective maps, and with these properties being more established, they could possibly make even better use of location data. Foursquare partnering up with either entity would give small businesses more exposure by making their locations, events and other information available in the SERPs.

Search and Location Data Getting Cozier

Many observers believe that the emerging location-based market will dramatically change the scope of online search, stating that data from Foursquare and possibly other services could soon be integrated into the results provided by Google, Yahoo and Bing. It has even been rumored that Google is eyeing some of the start ups in the industry for possible acquisitions that would give it a competitive edge over the latecomers. We have already seen it with social status updates, so the inclusion of “geo-tagged” content would not be farfetched at all. When and if the time comes, brands with multiple check-ins, reviews, and recommendations from consumers will reap the benefits of more exposure and hopefully, more business.

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Source by Gary San